board of directors

Mark Sandiford is an award-winning producer and director with over 30 years of experience in film, television and interactive media. He spent the bulk of his career in variety of senior positions at the CBC. In 2000, Mark established his own production company, Beachwalker Films Inc, producing documentaries for CTV, NFB, Discovery Channel and APTN. Mark’s most recent film, Qallunaat! Why White People are Funny, won the 2008 Gemini Award for best reflection of Canada’s racial and cultural diversity. Mark is currently a producer at Telos Entertainment, one of PEI’s leading video game developers.

Jesse works in New Dominion, where he runs hourglass, a flameworking hot glass studio. He’s a graduate of Sheridan College and Sir Sandford Fleming College. Jesse also works as a substitute teacher. He’s worked at Firehorse Stained Glass Studio on PEI, the Confederation Centre of the Arts Gallery and as an exhibition preparator in Toronto.

Rob Oakie served as a Director of the Prince Edward Island Music Awards Association beginning in 2004 and became President in 2006. Rob was instrumental in guiding the Association through the process of lobbying the provincial government for core and program funding to establish a fulltime provincial music industry association. Music PEI received full funding in 2007 and Oakie was appointed the Association’s first Executive Director in February 2008. Rob’s previous experience included 10 years in commercial export development and 20 years in sales and management. As President of Atlantic Canada Home until 2004 Rob was responsible for successfully developing sales in Japan, Germany, Iceland, Ireland and the UK.

Gerald Beaulieu originally comes from Welland, Ontario. He studied art at the Ontario College of Art and Design including a final year of study at the New York City satellite campus graduating in 1987. In 1988 he moved to Prince Edward Island where he now works and lives with his family. He is primarily a sculptor and installation artist receiving a number of national awards and grants for his work. He has had over 70 solo and group exhibitions across Canada the U.S. and Europe. The Beaverbrook Art Gallery recently acquired his work as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations. His solo exhibition Bodily Functions will be touring to North Bay, On, Edmonton, AB and Annapolis Royal, NS in 2009/2010. He has served on the board of the Prince Edward Island Council of the arts, has been on the board of CARFAC National since 2004 and for the past three years has served as the president of CARFAC National.

Peggy is Director of Dance Development at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. She co-founded dance umbrella in 1988 with Julia Sauvé and served as its Director since 1996. Her community experience includes numerous stints as Dance representative on the board of the PEI Council of the Arts, member of the Charlottetown Mayor’s Task Force on Arts and Culture, jury member for the PEI Council of the Arts grants adjudication, and jury member for the NB Arts Board grants adjudication. Peggy represents the performing arts sub-group of the sector.

Dr. David Keenlyside is currently Executive Director of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation and was appointed to the position in March 2007. He is an archaeologist by profession and worked for the Federal Government at the National Museum of Man in Ottawa and later, Canadian Museum of Civilization for 35 years as Atlantic Provinces archaeologist. Since 1978, he has conducted fieldwork in Prince Edward Island and the Maritimes investigating aboriginal archaeological sites. David has a broad range of heritage interests and has served in various capacities on professional and volunteer heritage organizations in Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia for many years.

David and his wife, Dr. Helen Kristmanson, also an archaeologist, live in Charlottetown with their two teenage children, Max and Madelaine.

Sarah Saunders represents the Visual Arts. Her artwork is included in the collections of the Canadiana Fund, the Province of PEI Art Bank, Confederation Centre Art Gallery and the Burlington Art Centre. She has exhibited both nationally and internationally. Articles on her work have appeared in the international journal Ceramics Art and Perception as well as in national publications on contemporary art. She has a Bachelor of Design from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Her formal art education at NSCAD is preceded by an educational background that includes dance studies in Toronto, a B.Sc. in biology from Acadia University and studies in sculpture and drawing at the American Centre in Paris. Sarah is the chairperson of the South Shore Arts Council and sits on the Acquisitions Committee of the Confederation Centre Art Gallery & Museum.

Manager of Trapeze Animation Studios Ltd., Brian also represents the New Media group and recently organized a cultural showcase (A.P.E.) to educate the public on the importance of creativity for a sustainable and developing community and economy. As an employer and entrepreneur he is aware of the artists needed in the labour force within the animation, gaming and web media sub-group.

Susan owns and operates Studio 4, her graphic design business as well as her Art Gallery and Studio in Cavendish. She also has ownership in Stanley Bridge Country Resort, Sutherland's Restaurant and Stanley Bridge Studios. She's been a self-employed entrepreneur since 1986. She is a painter, printmaker, designer and illustrator, and her work has been shown locally and internationally. She's written for Arts Atlantic Magazine and participated in Canada Council projects through the Printmakers' Council of PEI.

Virginia Winter, Executive Director and founder of Centre For Performing ARTS in Montague. Background in theatrical arts, music, performance, writing, acting, dance. Educated through New York University systems, and University of Georgia in Fine Arts, Audio and Visual Engineering, Radio and Television.

In 2003, became active in the Murray Harbour Drama Club, with performances in Theatre Festivals. In fall, 2003, began the concept of a performing arts theatre and began a drama program at Montague Intermediate School. Fall, 2004, formatted the seeds of a non profit Centre For Performing ARTS dedicated to all genres of the performing arts and education. In June, 2005 moved the Centre into a heritage theatre in Montague, and began educational programs and community programs.

Dedicated, trustworthy, focused, and devoted to the arts, I believe I can add to the mission and goals of this sector council.

Jordan is an entrepreneur, writer, editor & publisher. She is co-publisher and Editor-In-Chief of Island Family Magazine, a parenting magazine distributed throughout Prince Edward Island. She is also the author of LookBook: A Children’s Guide to Prince Edward Island.

Karl is a self-employed Charlottetown-based visual artist and instructor (oil painter, printmaking) who has overseen exhibitions in galleries such as the Anna Leonowens Gallery in Halifax and Mount St. Vincent University.